www.DOKweb.net is a portal dedicated to East European documentary film. The news section provides up-to-date information on upcoming and just completed films, interviews with filmmakers and other documentary professionals, in-depth articles exploring the state of documentary filmmaking in various parts of the region, as well as insightful texts on current trends, funding, etc. The portal also boasts the largest published databases of completed and upcoming documentary films from Eastern Europe, an industry directory, as well as trailers and original video content. www.DOKweb.net is IDF´s key online project that provides comprehensive details on all IDF´s activities and links them with general information service.

Founded in 2001, the INSTITUTE OF DOCUMENTARY FILM (IDF) is a non-profit training and networking centre based in Prague, Czech Republic, focused on the support of East European documentary films and their wider promotion. Our activities support filmmakers through all stages of completion – development, funding, production, post-production, and distribution. We aim at individual filmmakers (tailored consultations), groups of carefully selected professionals with projects or films (Ex Oriente Film, East European Forum, East Silver, Doc Launch, etc.), broader professional community (East Doc Platform), as well as the general public (portal www.DOKweb.net). We closely work with key int. festivals, broadcasters, distributors, sales agents, markets, or training initiatives and serve as the GATEWAY TO EAST EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY FILM.

Thessaloniki Doc Fest 2011 Awards

The 13th Thessaloniki Doc Fest (March 11 - 20) bestowed awards in multiple categories to the best films in this year's lineup. The FIPRESCI Award went to Sophia Tzavella's Paradise Hotel (East Silver Caravan); the German-Romanian documentary Close to Heaven won the WWF Award. Both films also received a Special Mention from the ERT3 Broadcasting Award Jury.

The Audience Award for a film over 45’ in the International Selection goes to Tears of Gaza(Gazaz Tarer) by Vikebe Lokkeberg, Norway, 2010. The Audience Award for a film under 45’ in the International Selection goes to The Other Town (Oteki Kasaba) by Nefin Dinc, Turkey, 2010.

The Audience Award for a Greek film over 45’ goes to Alma Bonita (To moro mou ftanei) by Vivi Zografou and Alexis Ponse, Greece, 2011. The Audience Award for a Greek film under 45’ goes to Satsang, Sitting by the Truth (Satsang syndrofia me tin alithia) by Marianna Astraka and Yiorgos Fotiadis, Greece, 2011.

The young Demir dreams of a wedding. But his Roma tower block at the outskirts of a provincial town in Bulgaria is no place for romance. 25 years ago it had all it takes for panel socialist heaven: from parquet floors to intercom, the coveted hot water central, street lamps, benches under murmuring apple trees. Someone called the place Paradise Hotel – and the name stuck. But now? The parquet disappeared. The water stopped. The lights went off. And if you cross the field behind Paradise Hotel, you will see Bozhidar “The God Given” who protects everyone from evil and excessive happiness in a documentary about panel integration, love, misery, a lot of dreams, a little lyrics and one Gypsy wedding.

The Amnesty International Jury consisting of: Sotiris Danezis (Journalist) and the representatives of the Greek Section of Amnesty International, Maro Savvopoulou, Irini Tsolaki, Marianna Leontaridou, Costas Panayotakis. awards the best film dealing with human rights issues to Everlasting Sorrow, Life After the Death Penaltyby David Andre, France, 2010.

Dumitru Stanciu is one of the last mountain shepherds of Europe. As his forefathers did for thousands of years, in summer as in winter he and his herd of sheep roam the far reaches of the Transylvanian Carpathian Mountains, close to the edge of heaven. He lives amidst the myths of his mountains, between bears and wolves, in the sun, wind, snow and ice — and in constant concern for his animals... Soon, when he hangs his sheepskin coat on the wall for the last time, an irretrievable piece of Old Europe shall die. Or will his son Radu take over the herd?

The Jury consisting of ET3 film directors and consultants: Elias Koutsoukos, Stergios Mittas, Yiorgos Toulas gave the ERT3 (Greek Public Television) Broadcasting Award in the Habitat section to: A Future without Oilby Laetitia Moreau, France, 2010. The award is equivalent to the sum of Euros 3.000 and includes one broadcast of the winning film on ERT3. Special mention goes to the films: Paradise Hotelby Sophia Tzavella, Bulgaria, 2010 / Close to Heavenby Titus Faschina, Germany/Romania, 2010 / Pelican's Watchby Lea Binzer, Greece, 2011.

The ERT (Greek Public Television) Doc on Air Award is given to the best Pitching Forum 2011 project. The award is equivalent to the sum of Euros 7.000. The winning project is: The Return, Produced by: Anita Rehoff Larsen, Sant & Usant Documentary Film, Norway, Directed by: Tone Andersen.

The EDN Award is presented annually during Docs in Thessaloniki to an institution, group or private person for outstanding contribution to the development of the European documentary culture. The EDN Award 2011 goes to Dimitri Eipides, Director of the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. He receives the award for his enthusiastic and energetic work with establishing and continuously developing the documentary film festival in Thessaloniki.